British Prime Minister Keir Starmer assured London’s support for Denmark in response to US President Donald Trump’s claims to Greenland’s sovereignty. Pressed by Sky News UK on the sidelines of a visit to the English Berkshires about the harsh words with which Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen replied to Trump, Sir Keir today showed a rare explicit distancing from the American president and said: “I am on your side, (Frederiksen) is right about the future of Greenland”.
Meanwhile, accusations are mounting in the United Kingdom against Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on the day of the resumption of parliamentary activities after the Christmas and New Year break. At the center of the criticism is the alleged “double standard” attributed to the prime minister for his failure to condemn the US military blitz in Venezuela.
Pressure from the opposition and Labour
Riding the controversy are both the Greens led by Zack Polanski and the centrist Liberal Democrats of Ed Davey. The requests for clarification are also joined by several deputies from the more progressive wing of Labor itself, who agree in calling for a clear distance from the great American ally and an explicit denunciation of the “violation of international law” committed by Washington in the South American country.
The crux of the “double standard”
The reference to the risk of a “double standard” with respect to the attitude adopted towards the Russian invasion of Ukraine – which has already emerged in relation to Israel’s retaliation in the Gaza Strip – is not new in the British political debate. The topic is now back in the news after Starmer, having archived an initial reaction of caution to the US military action in Caracas, clarified with a second statement that he has no intention of “shedding tears” for the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, defined as an “illegitimate” leader, while once again avoiding any explicit criticism towards Donald Trump.